Sunday 25 April 2010

Potpourri


Those of you who follow this blog will know that my home was completely flooded in a storm last month. I've been fixing up flood damage ever since and it's a big job. All of the flooring has to be replaced, so yesterday my dad and I scraped old underlay off the floor in one bedroom and tomorrow we're going to tackle the other bedroom. The underlay is dusty, a little mouldy, makes me wheeze ever so slightly and I can't wait to see it go.
But today I am taking a break!
I thought I'd treat myself to some blogging. I've got some crochet to show you (surprise!), some musings and some long forgotten pen illustrations to share as well.

Here are the drawings:


(The picture above is a stylization of a nocturnal gecko that's native to Perth. I currently have one of these dear little guys living in my garden shed and another one living under the bird bath.
They're very shy and very sweet.)





I rediscovered the drawings when, after the storm, I was salvaging belongings I'd stored in my spare room. They are part of a set of posters that I made waaaaayyyyy back in the 1980s when I was studying Education. These pictures are pretty modest little efforts but I'm fond of them, and I am very happy that I didn't lose them to the flood. Actually, I'm amazed that they survived without any water damage. They were packed in a big box that got wet but, miraculously, the box's cardboard absorbed all of the moisture.

I think that one of the reasons these old pictures are precious to me is because I do so little drawing these days. I'm always making resolutions to get back into drawing...but never getting around to it. Next year, though, I'm going to apply to work part time and, if I get an extra day to myself and all of my creative dreams, I hope I'll be able to summon up the energy and focus and commitment that I need to draw. In the meantime, I love the inspiration I can gain from people like Paul Heaston and Kelli Nina Perkins, who's been interviewed at Janeville (thanks to Judy for this link). Do you know of any other inspiring artists?

Crochet, on the other hand, is a very well developed habit.
Since my last post, I've finished felting my Marvellous Mini Tote:



I've also started crocheting squares for the Save The Children Fund's Knit One Save One campaign:

(The pattern's called the 6-7-8 Square and I'm sure it will look much prettier after it's been blocked. )

I've crocheted a necklace too, which I really like:





I used a slightly modified version of this tutorial. I worked with tigertail instead of craft wire ~ tigertail is much easier to crochet with than craft wire because it's more flexible. Unlike craft wire though, tigertail doesn't hold it's shape so I had to finish off the necklace with cord tips rather than the wire wrapping that's suggested in the tutorial. You can see the cord tips (they're little clamps) in the photo below:



This worked up really fast ~ it only took a few hours to create and I'm sure I'll be quicker next time.




I don't feel that I can finish this post without marking that today is Anzac Day, the national day of rememberance for Australians and New Zealanders when we honour those who died and served in military campaigns. Anzac Day is always a day of reflection. This year I've thought of some of the places I saw in Vietnam, which made the horror of war very real, and I've thought of some of the people I met in Vietnam who touched me with their capacity for forgiveness. Anzac Day has personal signifance for me too: my grandfather and great grandfather lost their lives in World War 2. They were both very brave men and their loss, of course, has had a huge impact on my family.
Lest we forget.








Blessings.
x

9 comments:

Katherine said...

I'm glad that the post-flood clean up is going well. The pen drawings are so cute!

I would love to go to Vietnam sometime in the future: my dad was conscripted for the Vietnam war. Like you, I have grandparents and great-grandparents involved in the 'big wars' too, but they came home. My great-grandfather's brother, however, did not (WW1). Lest we forget.

Kathy xx

Lynda said...

I just did my own post, then read yours - indeed, from one side of the country to the other, lest we forget, indeed (me - naval family, WW2 and Vietnam....)

Love everything, particularly the crochet necklace, and wonderful that the storm damage is being repaired! Hope all continues to proceed well.

Lynda

Indigo Blue said...

Hi,
I hope the house repairs are not taling its toll on you too much. Good to have family nearby to help. I really like the croceht necklace, espically the colours. I saw a documentary a few years ago about the Anzacs. Very gripping to watch and left you thinking afterwards.
I have an award for you on my blog, might be several posts down by now.
Take care
xx

Judy Merrill-Smith said...

Lovely rose photos -- and the drawings! My dear, why aren't you drawing?! They are great. Glad you liked the Kelli Perkins interview. There are so many inspiring folks out there, including you. (Yes, you.) Do you know Alisa Burke's work? You might enjoy this post from her blog: http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/2010/04/redefine-creativity.html
(Jane posted the link on her blog, too.)

Balkan Style Bloggers said...

I can't imagine recovering from such a disastrous flood! What an enormous job! I am absolutely impressed by your necklace - and the time that it took. I would have thought DAYS!

Natalie J said...

I'm so glad that the flood didn't ruin your drawings and that you were able to share them! I'm always in awe of people who can draw well.

Thanks for the link to the video tutorial for the crochet necklace too. I have some tiger tail at home that I might give this a try with. :)

Anonymous said...

hi friend!

i so love the expressiveness of your drawings - the turtle looks rustic and archaic, yet vital at the same time. a lovely quality of line. you are so very talented!

as someone with severe mold allergies, i'd thought i'd let you know about Zephyron Solution - a liquid concentrate that kills mold spores and prevents their regrowth. i depend on it to control my own mold prone areas.

be very very careful - mold can so easily become toxic and severely damage immunity. if you want any more ideas or input, you know where to reach me :-)

& thank heavens for roses,
so soft,
so ephemeral,
so intoxicating ~
how they lift all our spirits and inspire us onwards

love,
j

MayaB said...

You might think of your old drawings as modest little efforts, but I'm amazed!

Unknown said...

Your flowers are absolutely beautiful. I dont know how you find the time to do all you are doing considering you were flooded.